Highs and lows

Highs

CAL RIPKEN: Record streaks of consecutive games (2,632) and innings (8,243) that surely will never be matched. Two-time MVP. An 18-time All-Star (with No. 19 on the way). More than 3,000 hits and 400 home runs. A consummate pro and gentleman retiring at season's end. We thought he'd play forever. The Hall of Fame class of 2007 just got its valedictorian.

FOX SPORTS: Many NASCAR fans were nervous about what Fox might do to their sport, but heading into its final race of the season today even those who don't like the running order "crawl" across the top of the screen give Fox pretty good marks for its overall performance.

CUBS: They're planning to make changes at the ballpark to bring in more money -- more seats, more advertising, more concession areas -- but they promise it will look virtually untouched. Staying intact: the ivy, the classic centerfield scoreboard, the views from the rooftops across the street. And the name. Wrigley Field will still be Wrigley Field. Red Sox fans, eat your hearts out.

CARDINALS: Taxpayers will contribute about $200-million toward a new stadium. But this time, they get something in return. An agreement calls for the Cardinals to cap the price of 6,000 tickets at $12, low enough for families to attend.

Lows

PRO GOLF: The men's game had a chance to show it's not a one-man show. But after Sunday's final-round disaster, think again. When your so-called other stars don't charge or they flop again in a major and those left can't two-putt from 12 feet to win or one-putt from 18 inches to tie, don't expect anyone to care when there's a missing Tiger.

THE NBA: The league fined the Magic $15,000, claiming that its $50,000 donation to a charity that recognized Grant Hill for his community involvement was a salary cap violation. Never mind that the Magic has given such a donation each of the past six years.